Chapter 120: Confession

Hiroyuki paused, and in the next second, his vacant expression softened, followed by a light chuckle.

"The Captain asked me that very same question. After he asked me who I thought *he* was, he asked me who I thought 'I' was."

"So, it was that 'Captain'..."

Hikari hesitated for a moment, then realization dawned on him. This matter was still a secret known only to a handful of people, and since Hikari had been involved in some of the research and development, he was in the loop.

"And what did you say?"

"I said I am Hiroyuki Kudo. Because matter determines consciousness, and since the essence of this body is 'Hiroyuki Kudo,' then I am Hiroyuki Kudo."

Seeing Hikari looking as if he had more to say, Hiroyuki added, "I know this understanding might be flawed, but I had to give myself an answer. Right or wrong, I can always change it later..." He thought for a moment, then continued, "In short, I couldn't say 'I don't know.' I can be wrong, but I cannot be 'ignorant'."

"That is a good approach," Hikari nodded. "Self-perception is indeed of the utmost importance."

Even if one's initial understanding does not align with reality, it will constantly deepen and refine as one grows, gaining experience and insight.

Seeing that the groundwork was laid, Hiroyuki stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "So, Teacher Hikari, did you see anything in my medical report?"

Perhaps realizing that Hiroyuki could not decipher the various metrics displayed on the screen, Hikari simply turned the light-screen off.

"I did see some interesting things," Hikari said, walking over to the table. He sat down and produced a small, circular disc. "Look at this. What is it?"

"An Ultra Medal."

Hiroyuki answered instantly, even though the disc bore no markings and appeared to be a blank medal that had not yet been encoded with an Ultra warrior's energy signature.

"...??"

Hikari froze. He stared at Hiroyuki, who clearly read the silent complaint on the expressionless face of the Giant of Light: *Why aren't you playing by the rules?* Hiroyuki couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. "...Alright, then, what is it?"

"No... this, we only just named this thing yesterday." In Hikari’s expectation, Hiroyuki might have replied that it was a circle or a disc; he never imagined Hiroyuki would recite the name they had only just finalized the day before.

"Sorry, I have access to some inexplicable sources of information."

It was only then that Hiroyuki remembered he hadn't told Hikari about this. Fragments of the past, present, and future were all jumbled together in his memory.

Hikari did not press the issue further. He put away the uncharged Ultra Medal and sat back down, signaling for Hiroyuki to speak—to say more. It might provide context to the conclusions he had already reached; after all, the test results were objective facts, and he was certain that Hiroyuki's input would serve as a necessary supplement.

"What I’m about to say might sound preposterous. I haven't told anyone. You are a scientist, perhaps you can listen to these things objectively..."

Hikari nodded, his demeanor turning grave. This was a secret Hiroyuki had kept from everyone, and he was to be the first to hear it.

"I... once lived in another world for over twenty years. And then, inside a screen," Hiroyuki gestured to form a square, then continued, "I saw this world's past, present, and future. Yes, to me, this world was supposed to be flat, two-dimensional."

"In that world, I grew up, lived, and worked. Then, when I woke up, I was here. I was in this body that isn't mine—a body with a face and a physique completely different from my own. I am not Hiroyuki."

"At least, in that world, I wasn't Hiroyuki. I was just... a soul that didn't belong to this world."

"..."

Hikari remained silent, as if digesting the overwhelming amount of information in this confession.

"But everyone thinks you are Hiroyuki. Your colleagues, your friends—did none of them notice?"

Hikari found it absurd. Had he encountered a master of performance?

"...You didn't even use 'amnesia' as an excuse."

He had seamlessly stepped into the life of "Hiroyuki."

"Probably because I’ve had little contact with them since I woke up," Hiroyuki replied with a rueful smile. "Because I knew information about this world from that other world—including information about this person, Hiroyuki Kudo. So, I was essentially role-playing him, using the knowledge I had about 'Hiroyuki Kudo.' I’m surprised I haven't been caught yet, because I don't possess a single shred of Hiroyuki’s past memories. I don't know the little details of his childhood."

Except for the part about the 'Little One.'

"I don't know Hiroyuki's family, his parents, his upbringing. I know nothing."

In truth, it wasn't that he hadn't slipped up. It was just that he had gained the "bonds" of Officer Sakura, Senpai Homare, and Uncle Oda, as if he had opened a new bank account and all of "Hiroyuki's" acquaintances had started transferring their trust into this new account.

Did they have no doubts? Did they not think the "Hiroyuki" before them was an imposter—some new type of scam? Or did they interpret it themselves, explaining it away by saying "Hiroyuki has changed," "Hiroyuki has grown up," or "So this is what Hiroyuki was really like"? Not a single one of them suspected that the person before them might not be Hiroyuki. Not one.

This realization left Hiroyuki feeling both relieved and deeply unsettled.

"Why didn't you tell them?"

"I..."

Hiroyuki was speechless for a moment, then sighed. "They were gathered around my hospital bed, looking so worried, cautiously asking if I recognized them. At that moment, perhaps I should have told them: I am not Hiroyuki, I don't know you, I know nothing."

It would have been natural for them to assume he had amnesia. After all, the doctors had told them that Hiroyuki’s brain had suffered a certain degree of damage and that he might have cognitive deficits as a side effect. It would have been a perfectly logical explanation.

"But they are all such good people—too good. I didn't want to make them sad, so I called them by their names. Yes, the information about those people... I learned it in that other world."

"They were so happy, thinking Hiroyuki was fine. I stood there watching, and I couldn't bring myself to say it... Just because I know them doesn't mean I am Hiroyuki. I didn't lie—I do know them—but in reality, from the moment I spoke their names, there was no turning back. I could only keep playing the part."

Hearing this, Hikari rose from the table, dragged a screen over from the corner, and began to "write on the board."

He was a scientist, after all.

Following Hiroyuki's narrative, he wrote down in sequence: "Lived in another world for over twenty years," "Acquired information about this world in the other world," "Woke up in the hospital."

Then, starting a new line, he continued: "Hiroyuki and Taiga became partners and fought together," "Hiroyuki was attacked and fell into a coma," "Sent to the hospital," "Comatose for twelve days."

He turned back to look at Hiroyuki. "Is this correct?"

Hikari had straightened out the sequence of events from the perspectives of both "Hiroyuki" and Hiroyuki. He wrote the characters large and clear, making it easy for Hiroyuki to read, so he nodded.

Hikari gripped the stylus, studying the board carefully. His fingers flickered, and the lines of text shifted from their original positions, rearranging themselves.

They now read:

"Hiroyuki and Taiga became partners and fought together," "Hiroyuki was attacked and fell into a coma," "Sent to the hospital," "Lived in another world for over twenty years," "Acquired information about this world in the other world," "Comatose for twelve days," "Woke up in the hospital."

He had connected all the objective statements, linking the experiences of "Hiroyuki" and Hiroyuki together.

"Look, doesn't this also provide a self-consistent explanation?"

Hikari tapped the whiteboard, looking very much like a teacher in a classroom.

"As for not knowing 'Hiroyuki's' past—think about it: you were attacked, suffered brain damage, and were in a coma for twelve days. Is it really so strange that you’ve forgotten everything upon waking?"